Memorial · NPS · FL
De Soto National Memorial
Photo: Tim Ohr, De Soto Monument
Alerts and conditions
Information Park Visitor Center Is Closed
Due to damage from the 2024 Hurricanes. The Park's visitor centers and restrooms are closed due to health and safety issues. The Park has installed portable restrooms located at the front of the park for visitor use.
Overview
In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting their homelands. De Soto’s quest for glory and gold would be a four year, four thousand mile odyssey of intrigue, warfare, disease, and discovery that would form the history of the United States.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Living History
- Reenactments
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
De Soto National Memorial: De Soto National Memorial is open with a Visitor Contact Tent. The park's Visitor Center remains closed due to Hurricane damage. The park cannot offer the movie at this time. Trails are awaiting rehabilitation and access is limited for those who need mobility assistance. There are portable restroom facilities and handwashing stations on site for visitor use.
De Soto National Memorial Entrance Gate and Parking Lot Hours: De Soto National Memorial is open seven days a week with exceptions of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. The park will also be closed during periods of severe weather like tropical storms and hurricanes.
Getting there
Driving Directions: From I-75 Take exit 220 SR 64/Manatee Ave, Gulf Beaches exit. Travel west on SR 64 for approximately 12 miles to 75th St. W. Turn right onto 75th St. W. travel north approximately 2 miles to the northern terminus 75th St. W. turns into De Soto Memorial Hwy and dead ends into the park.
Visitor centers
Weather
Summers avg. Temperature is 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 80-90% Late afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common usually lasting only 10-20 minutes. Winters are mild and dry with lows reaching on average 60 degrees.
Phone: 9417920458
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 7 miles
- Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 9 miles
- Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 11 miles
- Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 58 miles
- Pine Island National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 64 miles
- Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 76 miles